Our advice is simple – respect the request made by the family or the person who’s passed. And if there’s no guidance, here’s our advice.
Look for clues
Funeral notices in newspapers or on social media often carry precise instructions or guidance for funerals. Where a funeral is taking place, the date and timings may be accompanied by a dress code recommendation. In the absence of a specific rule, consider the person’s age and style to determine what may be appropriate.
Make it personal
As funerals are increasingly personal and individual, it’s quite common for families to express a particular preference for mourners to wear a single colour, or bright colours, or to bring team branding to the funeral. We’ve had uniforms, sports teams, professional colleagues turn up as a group which is usually planned or advised in advance. A farmer’s funeral stands out as many mourners arrived in wellies, “because that’s what he would be wearing”.
If a family has a specific idea in mind, they’ll often make it clear and share the request widely.
Err on the conservative
In the absence of any specific direction, our advice is to choose an outfit that is smart, formal and usually something dark. The days of black mourning or ‘Sunday best’ outfits have gone, but you can still find something that reflects respect. For some that’s just not ripped jeans. For others, it’s a suit.
If a family has a specific idea in mind, they’ll often make it clear and share the request widely.
Practical considerations
If you are attending a graveside or woodland burial and the ground is uneven, or the weather unforgiving, then your fashion choices will be limited to what’s comfortable and safe. Flip flops for beach funerals, sturdy shoes for woodland burials and, in the UK, often a waterproof coat!
What would you like for your funeral?
Making your wishes clear is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for those you love. It removes doubt from those responsible for making decisions to honour you. Set out your preferred dress code in your Plan of Wishes which we’ll create for you free of charge to store for when the time comes.